Method of and apparatus for forming continuous electrodes



June 30, 1925. 1,544,151

AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING CONTINUOUS ELECTRODES A. HELFENSTEIN METHOD OF Filed March 20. 1923 ZE, A

mii

Isl

@f1-mma June 3o, 192s.

.addition in interlockin UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALOIS HELFENSTEIN, OF VIENNA, AUSTRIA, ASSIGNOR TO UNION CARBIDE COH- PANY, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF VIRGINIA.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOB FORIING CONTINUOUS ELECTRODm.

Application med Iaroho, 1928. Serial No.\626,891.

To all whom it may come-m.'

Be it known that I, ALors HErJ'nNsfrmN, a citizen of Switzerland, residing at Vienna, Austria, have invented certain new and useful 1m rovements in Methods of and Ap aratus or Forming Continuous Electro es, of which the following is a specication.

This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for forming continuous electrodes, i. e. producing electrodes at the place of their immediate use as continuations of the electrode portion extending into the furnace.

According to the invention the forming and baking of the raw material from which the electrode is prepared takes place in advance of the point at which the current enters the electrode and is effected by external heating by means of a heating arrangement surrounding the mould, or in the case of hollow or very large electrodes, by means also of a heating device applied within an inner mould. Heat may be produced by the use of liquid or seous fuel, or by means of electrical heating resistances.

According to the invention, it is intended to utilize, although provision may be made for burning gas from a se arate supply, combustible gases resultin rom the processes carried out in the urnace and also such gases as are developed during the burning operation, from the raw mix from which the electrode is formed, by conducting such gases into the heating apparatus and using the heat of combustion thereof to burn the electrodes.

In order to bring about a reliable union between the electrode in operation and the part to be added thereto, solid parts such as pieces of metal or graphite or electrode carbon rods are inserted in the electrode mass so as to project therefrom and form anchoring elements for the next addition. The same object can be accomplished by forming the free end of the electrode mass to be burned with threaded or channeled portions for receiving the electrode mass of the next relation.

'The mould and the eating arrangement associated withit, on the one side, andthe electrode adjusting clamp, on the other side, are so correlated that the former may `-participate in any adjusting movement of the electrode, or may be moved relatively thereto, preliminary to the application of a new charge of electrode material.

In case the electrodes have a large crosssection, it is advisable to use both an outer mould and an inner mould, and to provide a heating device also in the latter. While in such case the outer mould may be advantageously heated by means of gas, preferably including the gases given oil' from the electrode mass during the baking operation, the inner mould is preferably heated by an electric resistance element.

For a full understanding of the principles of operation on which the invention is ased and the advantages resulting therefrom, reference is made to the accompanyingrdrawings in which 1g. 1 is an elevation, partly in section, of an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing a modiiication thereof; and

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3, Fig. 2.

In the drawings, a represents the interior of an electric furnace, which may be of any desired construction, b an electrode in operation, o the electrode adjusting clamp and d the driving spindles therefor. Below the adjusting clamp 0 is disposed a guide frame including set screws p or other mechanism for clamping the electrode in fixed position independently of the adjusting clamp o. This guide frame is supported upon the furnace and provides facilities for supporting the electric contact terminals g in contact with the electrode b.

Upon the adjusting clamp is mounted a device for applying heat to the outer mould e. This device preferably comprises a body f of heat-insulating material defining a central chamber f1, the upper and lower portions having a sliding fit with the mould e. The chamber 7 has gas inlets f2 connected with conduits c' through which gases generated in the electric furnace may be introduced to heat the mould eand an outlet f for the gases. The u er end of the body f is closed by a removablel cover g. The arrangement is such that between' the cover g, the mould e and the upper end of the body f is provided a gas space which is connected through channels lt in the body f with the chamber f1. Air ducts f* may be provided for effecting combustion of the gases in the chamber f1.

The operation is as follows:

Considering as the starting point of the cycle of operation the conditions represented in Fig. 1, it may be assumed that the electrode material has just been packed into the mould e. TheY gases from the furnace a.

pass through the conduits 'L' into the chamber f1, flow around the mould e and pass out through the outlet f3. As the baking operation proceeds the gases evolved from the material m in the mould pass into the space above the upper end of the material m and through the channels h into the chamber f1 and supplement the heating effect ofthe gases coming from the furnace.

The material in the mould is thus heated to 'the temperature required for the baking operation. As previously suggested. a separate source of gas may be used whenever necessary to produce the desired amount of heat.

W hen the material m has been exposed to the heat a suiiicient length of time, the heating operation may be interrupted to allow the baked material m to cool. Cooling is accompanied by contraction .which causes tie electrode material to separate from the walls of the mould.

From time to time in proportion to the rate at which the working electrode is being consumed, the adjusting clamp mechanism is advanced to feed the electrode into the furnace. `When such movement takes place the mould e and the material m together with the heating device, move with the working electrode b and the adjustment clamp 0.

17V hen in the meantime the baking operation has been completed and the new addition has been freed from the mould by contraction as above mentioned, the electrode may be clamped in position by means of the set screws p and the clamp c may be loosened and moved upwardly relatively to the electrode to any desired position. The set screws p may then again be loosened to permit again the normal feeding operation by means of the clamp 0 and spindles d.

rEhe heating device may remain inoperative or may be used again according to the condition of the material m.

When the electrode has been fed into the furnace far enough to make the continuation or extension necessary a new charge of electrode material is filled into the mould and forced down tight and the heating operation is repeated.

As is indicated in Fi l, a screw-threaded stud Z may be inserte into the upper portion of the new charge to afford a reliable anchoring of the new electrode portion and a dependable union to make the electrode practically continuous. Instead of a screwthreaded stud, various other forms of anchoring means are of course available.

In case the electrode has a large cross- Vfilled with fresh material, whereupon the heatin element may be placed on top of the plug t us formed to se arately bake it. As an alternative, if no otlier anchoring means are provided, the hole may receive an anchoring piece such as the stud Z previously referred to, together with electrode material and the anchor may thus be separately baked into the electrode.

In case of hollow electrodes, an inner mould and heating arrangement similar to the mould a and device 0 are used with the difference, of course, that the mould and heating device are of greater axial extent.

`Wliile I have described what I believe to be a particularly advantageous construction for carrying out the objects of the invention, there is of course considerable latitude in regard to detail.

It is understood that the relationship between the moulds, the heating devices and the electrode is the essential feature, and it is immaterial in that respect whether the electrodes move vertically, horizontally or obliquely.

I claim:

1. The mode of forming continuous electrodes for use in an electric furnace, which consists in maintaining a working electrode of such length that a substantial portion thereof extends outside the furnace, feedinfr the working current to the electrode at points inwardly of the end thereof moulding electrode material to the end of the electrode outside the furnace during the normal feeding-in movement thereof and applying gaseous heating means to such moulded material to bake the same outside said furnace.

2. The mode of forming continuous electrodes for use in an electric furnace, which consists in maintaining a working electrode of such length that a substantial portion thereof extends outside the furnace, feeding the working current to the electrode at polnts inwardly of the end thereof, moulding and baking electrode material to the end of the electrode and then allowing the baked portion to cool, the moulding, baking and coolin o rations being carried out while the gwoing electrode is normally fed into the furnace. f

3. Themode of forming continuous electrodes for use in electric furnaces, which consists in maintaining outwardly of the zone of entrance of t e electric working current into the electrode a substantial electrode length moulding electrode material to the en of the electrode while the latter is moved inwardly, applying j j nally to such moulded material tol bake the same before the said end is itself the zone of entrance. f

4. The mode of forming trodes for use in an electric furnace, which consists in maintaining a working electrode of such length that a substantial portion thereof projects outside the furnace, moulding electrode material to the end of the projecting portion, inserting an anchorinof element in the end of the moulded materia baking the moulded material and thenallowing it to cool, the moulding, baking and cooling o rations being carrled out while the working electrode is normally fed into the furnace and the workin current being fed to the workin electro e at points inwardly of the en tion.

5. Arran lment for formin continuous electrodes or use 1n electric rnaces, m-

cluding the combination with an electric furnace of means for feeding a working electrode into the furnace, said means being constructed and arran ed outside the furnace to have a substantia range of movement toward and away from the latter, means carried b the feeding means for moulding and bal'rin electrode material to the end of the wor g electrode, means for feeding the workin current to the electrode at points inwar ly of the range of movement of the feeding means and means inwardly of the range of movement of the said feedin means o erative at will to hold the electr e in fixe position relatively to the furnace.

6. Arran ement for forming continuous electrodes for use in electric umaces, including the combination with an electric furnace, of means disposed outside the furnace for feeding the working electrode, a mould outside said furnace, and a heatin chamber surrounding the mould, both moul and heating chamber being mounted for movement with the feeding means, the feeding means being adjustable relatively to the electrode in the direction of length and the mould bein disposed in axial alignment with the e ectrode.

7. Arran ment for forming continuous electrodes gdr use in electric furnaces, including the combination of electrode clamping mechanism positioned outside the furaway from t e furnace andmeans continuous elec-A of the projecting pornace and movable in ali ment with the feedin movement of the e ectrode, a mould and a eating chamber therefor mounted on thel clampin mechanism in theV direction for passing gases from the furnace to the -heating chamber. 1 v 1 8. Arran Vment forfforming continuous electrodes or `use in "electric furnaces, including' the combination of electrode clamping mechanism itioned outside the furnace and mova le in ali ment with the feedin movement of the e ectrode, a mould and a eating chamber therefor mounted on the` clampin mechanism in theV direction away from t e-furnace and means between the said clamping mechanism and the furnace for holding the electrode in fixed position relatively to the furnace.

9. Arrangement for forming continuous electrodes or use in electric furnaces, including the combination of electrode clamping mechanism ositioned outside the furnace and movabe in ali ent with the feeding movement of the e ectrode, a mould and a heating chamber therefor mounted on the clampin mechanism in the direction away from e furnace, and means disposed between the the said clamping mechanism and the furnace for feeding the working current `to the electrode.

10. Apparatus for forming continuous electrodes for use in electric furnaces, comprising in combination with a furnace, electrode feeding means including an adjustable clamp, a mould and a heating chamber therefor mounted on the clamp in alignment with the electrode and means for passing gases from the furnace into the heating chamber.

11. Apparatus for forming continuous electrodes for use in electric furnaces, comprising in combination with a furnace, electrode feeding means including an adjustable clamp, a mould and a heating chamber therefor mounted on the clamp in alignment with the electrode and means affording a gas conduit between the upper end of the mould and the heating chamber.

12. Apparatus for forming continuous electrodes for use in electric furnaces, comprising a mould outside such furnace, a heating chamber surrounding the mould, means for movably supporting the mould and its heating chamber in alignment with the electrode, means for adjustably holdin the mould and the heating chamber in fixe relation relatively to the electrode and means for effecting relative movement between the mould and the heating chamber on the one side and the electrode on the other side.

13. In a paratus for forming continuous electrodes combination of a mould outside such furnace, defining the outer surface of the electrode, a heating chamber surrounding the or use in an electric furnace the the inner mould mould, means for passing gases from the furnace into the heating chamber, an inner moud defining a hollow space in the electrede and an eieetrie heating device within means for mov/ably supporting the mou ds and heating devices 1n alignment with the electrode, means for adjustabiy securing the said supporting means to the electrode and means for effecting relative axial movement between the moulds and 10 the heating devices on the one side and they electrode on the other side.

n testimony whereof, I aix my signature.

ALOIS HELFENSTEIN. Witnesses:

CARL CONDEMBY, ING. IGNAz KNRFELMAGHER. 

